The Department of Interior and Local Government- Bureau of Local Government Development (DILG-BLGD) and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), with the support of Microsoft, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, other development partners and civil society organizations, spearheaded the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) Breakthrough Summit with the theme “Continuing Meaningful Devolution” last December 3, 2015 at the Icon Hotel, Timog, Quezon City. Approximately 270 participants from PCF recipient local government units (LGU), mostly represented by their local chief executives (LCEs), and other partners took part in the event.
The PCF is an incentive provided to LGUs in the form of financial grant for local development projects included in their Annual Investment Program (AIP). It aims to recognize good governance performance particularly in the areas of transparency, accountability, participation and service delivery. The LGUs must pass all three core assessment areas including the Good Financial Housekeeping, Disaster Preparedness and Social Protection. Moreover, at least one of the following essential assessment area have to be passed by the LGUs namely (a) Peace and Order, (b) Environmental Protection and (c) Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness. The PCF supports DILG’s banner campaign on transparency and accountability and good local governance based on the premise that transparency and accountability in local government operations will lead to improved service delivery system and ultimately improve the living conditions of the people.

One of the event highlights was the presentation of the “#ParaSaBayan: Pagtataguyod ng Makabuluhang Adhikain ng Pamamahalang Lokal” advocacy, by ULAP Executive Director Ms. Czarina Medina-Guce. This advocacy is in line with the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Local Government Code in October 2016. The #ParaSaBayan advocacy pushes for continued and strengthened implementation of increased performance-based incentives like the PCF, other direct LGU download programs, and evidence-informed policy-making initiatives to qualified local governments including programs like Bottom-up-Budgeting (BuB), KALSADA and the proposed BuB Barangay. The concept is hinged on the slogan “Para sa aking sariling bayan, tungo sa ikauunlad ng ating buong bayan”, which means that is good for the localities is good for the nation. The presentation was followed by a commitment signing ceremony by all local government officials present, symbolizing their support to the #ParaSaBayan advocacy.
Other highlights of the event included a panel discussion featuring LCEs with inspiring stories on good local governance through the performance management and incentive system. The said panel was comprised of Mayor Lina Montilla of Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, Mayor Juan Sanchez of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro and Mayor Concepcion Zarate of Pura, Tarlac. Another panel in the afternoon was about “Strengthening PCF through Stakeholder Partnership”. It was participated by Governor Edward Plaza of Agusan del Sur, Mr. Paul Hutchcroft, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) – AusAID, Mr. Juan Luis Gomez, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Mr. Angelo Kairos Dela Cruz, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC). All these panels were moderated by Ms. Czarina Medina-Guce, ULAP Executive Director.
This endeavor is part of the continuing partnership for the Innovative Technologies for Open Government Partnership Coalition (ITOGP) where DILG, Microsoft and ULAP sit as co-chairs. The Performance Challenge Fund is also part of the #ParaSaBayan advocacy.
For questions or clarifications on the advocacy, please contact ULAP Executive Director Czarina Medina-Guce through (02) 5346787, 5346789, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..